Free Parenting Resources for Educators, Parents, Caregivers or Teachers

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ZERO TO THREE Child Development Handouts

On their web site ZERO TO THREE offers Healthy Minds: Nurturing Children’s Development from 0-36months, a series of seven reproducible handouts for parents addressing brain and child development over the first 36 months of life.  These handouts were developed to help parents better understand the science of early development and how to apply the information in meaningful ways to nurture young children’s development.  Also available in Spanish.  Go to www.zerotothree.org/healthyminds

Nibbles for Health: Nutrition Newsletters for Parents of Young Children

Nibbles for Health was developed for child care center staff and parents of young children enrolled in child care centers.  This free kit offers child care center staff guidance on conducting discussions with parents in three "sharing sessions".  Also contained in the kit and available to download immediately are 41 reproducible newsletters that staff can provide to parents about healthful eating for their  families and fun activities families can do to promote health like growing a family garden.  teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/nibbles.html

Teaching Tools for Young Children with Challenging Behavior

The Center for Evidence-Based Practice: Young Children with Challenging Behavior at the University of South Florida has produced Teaching Tools for Young Children with Challenging Behavior.  These materials are intended to assist teachers in problem-solving a plan to support young children who are having challenging behavior.   Solutions for families can be found at following hyperlink... challengingbehavior.fmhi.usf.edu/tools.html

Solution for Families

The Center for Evidence-Based Practice: Young Children with Challenging Behavior at the University of South Florida has produced a simple pamphlet that will help parents struggling with the challenging behavior of their young child.  Solution for Families: Eight Practical Tips for Parents of Young Children with Challenging Behavior clearly explains each strategy and offers an example of how and when each strategy could be used.  challengingbehavior.fmhi.usf.edu/resources.html#handouts

Baby’s First Wish Newsletter Program

Colorful 8 page newsletters for each new month.  Topics cover all baby and new parents’ needs and are laid out so all or just part of each newsletter can be printed and used.  Starts at month one and goes to month 36.  Also available in Spanish.  www.nmcyfar.org/bfw.html

Parenting Skills Workshop Series: A Manual for Parent Educators

This free manual is designed to provide parent educators with a complete guide to the skills, teaching techniques, and empowerment philosophy used in the Parenting Skills Workshop Series.  Eight workshops for low-literacy parents teach basic parenting skills using hands-on practice through role plays by facilitators and participants.  The purpose of the program would be to replace impulsive behavior with rational behavior and ineffective or hurtful parenting styles with effective, child-friendly skills.  www.parenting.cit.cornell.edu/pp_psws.html

Color Me Healthy Parent Newsletters

Download monthly issues of Color Me Healthy parent newsletters (in English and Spanish) that contain helpful information on eating healthy and being active, quick after-work recipes, as well as ideas to help families be healthy. www.colormehealthy.com/parent_newsletters.html

Ed Extras

Ed Extras is a free monthly service that offers preschool programs, elementary schools and PTAs articles about learning that you can include in your parent newsletters.  The one page articles are available either as a formatted PDF or as a Word document in both English and Spanish. www.readingrockets.org/newsletters/extras

Parenting Newsletters for a Variety of Ages

Iowa State University Extension has a series of free newsletters especially for parents of children from infants to sixth grade.  Whether you're dealing with parents of an infant, a "terrible two" a preschooler or school age child, ISU Extension has a newsletter that is right for you.  www.extension.iastate.edu/homefamily/parenting/
(Under More Resources on the lower right click on Parenting newsletters)

TODDLER TOPICS PLUS…
A Parent Newsletter for Toddlers, Preschoolers and beyond!

TODDLER TOPICS PLUS… is learn-at-home parent newsletter created by Penn State Cooperative Extension.  This newsletter is designed to assist parents, grandparents, caregivers and all adults who care about and for children in all their interactions with children.  You will find helpful tips and techniques to improve family's time together while providing  information that will enrich children's learning process. montgomery.extension.psu.edu/Family/ToddlerTopics.html

Parent Newsletters

Parenting Pipeline, managed by the North Dakota State University Extension Service (NDSU), contains free newsletters for parents of preschoolers, kindergartners, second, fourth, and sixth graders, and teens.  Each level offers a number of newsletters on issues related to parenting and family life.  Some topic examples: Temper Tantrums, Children & Eating and Helping with Homework.
Visit www.ext.nodak.edu/extnews/pipeline/

Tips Sheets for Parents of School Age Children

KSA-Plus Communications and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s ENLACE initiative have teamed up to present four new resources with advice on what parents can do at home and at school to help their children become successful learners.  The new resources (in English and Spanish) include a parent primer on education in the United States (designed mainly for immigrant families), and tip sheets on testing, supplemental education services, creating safer schools, and reading.
To download these publications, visit: www.parents.ksaplus.com

Attractive Colorful Pamphlets

As a part of The Parenting Network's mission to strengthen parenting, they provide articles and related information for parents and caregivers of children to help deal with the stresses of parenting.  These attractive pamphlets help parents with discipline and guidance, toilet learning, and temper tantrums.
Go to www.theparentingnetwork.org/about_parenting.htm

Hablemos En Confianza Bilingual Materials

Initiated in 2001 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), within the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the Hispanic/Latino Initiative has involved the Latino community in the development of culturally-appropriate materials for parents, children and community leaders.  One of the products developed through the initiative is "Hablemos en Confianza," a bilingual (English/Spanish)Web site of communication materials designed to initiate dialogue between Spanish-speaking Hispanic/Latino parents and their children about the dangers of substance abuse.  Recently posted articles include:

• Help Your Child Reach the Stars: Get Involved in Your Child's Education
• Back to School Basics: Helping Your Child Get Ready for School
• Helping Your Kids Steer Clear of Gangs

The address for "Hablemos en Confianza" is: hablemos.samhsa.gov/new/topten.aspx

English and Spanish Guide "Put Reading First: Helping Your Child Learn to Read - A Parent Guide "
LA LECTURA ES LO PRIMERO: COMO AYUDAR A SU HIJO A APRENDER A LEER

The Partnership for Reading is pleased to announce the Spanish translation of the popular "Put Reading First: Helping Your Child Learn to Read – A Parent Guide." This brochure provides a quick overview of the findings of the National Reading Panel for parents and gives ideas for what to expect from a school's reading program based on evidence from the research (preschool through grade 3).  The brochure also suggests ways parents can reinforce reading instruction at home with everyday activities and interactions.  The Partnership is a collaborative effort of the National Institute for Literacy and its federal partners, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

To download this document, go to:
www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/publications/pdf/PRF_espan_.pdf
The English language version may be downloaded at: www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/publications/Parent_br.pdf

Guides to Help Latino Parents Improve Their Children's Education

The Education Trust recently released “Improving Your Child’s Education: A Guide for Latino Parents.”  This guide offers Latino parents a number of suggestions on how they can get involved in and be better advocates for the education of their children.  Information is also offered so that Latino parents have the tools to exercise their rights.
To view the guide, visit: www2.edtrust.org/NR/rdonlyres/1213B912-0419-4504-8D7E-414106C22D5C/0/imprvgeduLatino.pdf
To view the guide in Spanish, visit: www2.edtrust.org/NR/rdonlyres/CCF44357-B41F-4483-BB57-D2F3D25565B9/0/imprvgeduLatino_Espanol.pdf

Helping Your Child Series

The Helping Your Child publication series aims to provide parents with the tools and information necessary to help their children succeed in school and life.  These booklets feature practical lessons and activities to help their school-age and preschool children master reading, understand the value of homework, and develop the skills and values necessary to achieve and grow.  Copies are available to order online at ED Pubs.
Many teachers find the series to be a very helpful tool for increasing parental involvement and give copies to their students' parents.  Copies of the series may be viewed online at
www.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/hyc.html?src=rt

Finding a Good Pre-school for your Child

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) provides a search function to assist parents in finding names, addresses and contact information for all early childhood programs currently accredited by the NAEYC.  Visit www.naeyc.org to download Adobe pdf articles.

Multilingual Tips for Parents and Practitioners

Multilingual Tips for Parents and Practitioners to Help Children Develop Good Talking and Listening Skills [Source: Reading Rockets News, Apr 2005] The Literacy Trust in the UK has developed several one-page "Talk to Your Baby" tip sheets on how parents and caregivers can help children develop good speaking and listening skills.  Each is bilingual.  They are available in Chinese, Arabic, Urdu, French, Tamil, and other languages.
   For more information, visit: www.literacytrust.org.uk/talktoyourbaby

Reading Tips for Parents

This bookmark (available in both English and Spanish) lists suggestions for teaching children how to read.  It also includes contact information for both the Partnership for Family Involvement in Education and the Department of Education's Information Resource Center, which offers a host of materials for developing literacy skills.  For your copy call 1.877.4ED.PUBS and request product # EKH0063M.

U.S. Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education publishes a series of booklets for families and care givers that are available free of charge.  Simply go to their website at www.edpubs.org or call their publications center at 1.877.4ED.PUBS.  You will find titles such as: Helping Your Preschool Child; Homework Tips for Parents; Healthy Start, Grow Smart; Helping Your Child Become a Reader; Helping Your Child With Homework; Questions Parents Ask About Schools and many more.

A Child Becomes a Reader,
     Proven Ideas for Parents from Research

Kindergarten through Grade Three - This booklet offers advice for parents of children from grades K-3 on how to support reading development at home, and how to recognize effective instruction in their children's classrooms.  Download this booklet for free by clicking here.

Great parenting tips from the Illinois State Board of Education

Great parenting tip sheets (in both English and Spanish) can be printed and used as hand-outs by going to www.illinoisearlylearning.org/tips.htm.  Tip sheet topics include THE CURIOUS CHILD and DON'T SPANK! HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO INSTEAD! plus many, many more -- 54 in total.

The Magic of Everyday Moments

These booklets show parents how everyday moments can be rich opportunities to encourage their baby's development.  They show how a parent's attention to and interaction with their child can support the baby's social, emotional and intellectual growth.  It's the special interplay between parent and child that make this material so meaningful.  Phone 877.565.5465 to order.

Solutions by the Educational Experts Behind Sesame Street

This site is loaded with parenting articles, advice, and activities that you can print out and distribute as needed to parents.  Topics include raising a child who is spirited but not spoiled; how children learn empathy; raising a drug free child and learn letters with easy and inventive alphabet activities.  Visit www.sesamworkshop.org/parents/.

Informative Research-based Publications

The Partnership for Reading is pleased to recommend publications designed to help teachers, parents, policy-makers, and other educators implement the findings of evidence-based research with the children, adolescents, and adults with whom they work.  Check back often as new products will be added to the lists on a regular basis...
www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/publications/recommended.html.

Positive Parenting Tips

Being a parent is rewarding and challenging.  There are no easy answers, but the website of The Child Welfare League of America provides helpful tips for parents on topics such as: play, discipline techniques, toilet learning, communicating with young children, building your child's self-esteem as well as humor and perspectives on parenting.  Visit www.cwla.org/positiveparenting/tips.htm to find information that will make your job as a parent more enjoyable and effective.